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Original poster

term time holiday refused

66 replies

elliejjtiny · 30/09/2021 13:21

My eldest started school 11 years ago and I have never taken them out of school for a holiday/day trip.

DS2 is in year 9 and autistic. His obsession is formula 1 and he wants to work with racing cars when he leaves school. FIL has offered to take him to the grand prix next july. It's a 3 day trip, friday to sunday and on the friday you can walk on the track, see the pit lanes etc. It's a fantastic opportunity and very expensive too, thankfully FIL is paying as well as taking him.

We filled in the form for a term time holiday request and it's been refused. They say that it's not essential and if we take him out anyway it will be an unauthorised absence and we will be fined. His attendance is almost perfect. Since he started secondary school 2 years ago he has had 2 days off sick. That was when he took an overdose in february and ended up in hdu. He took his overdose on Monday morning, came out of hdu on tuesday morning and came home from hospital on Tuesday afternoon. He went back to home learning on the Wednesday morning (his choice - I would have given him time off).

The lady who signed the refusal form was the same person who was our first point of contact after his overdose. So it's hard not to take it personally.

I know that attendance is important but it's 1 day and it will make him so happy. Can I appeal/fight for this?

OP posts:

00100001 · 30/09/2021 13:22

Ehh... just take him out. Pay the small fine.

Who care about unauthorised absence. Doesn't mean anything.

AubergineParmigiana · 30/09/2021 13:23

They're not permitted to authorise time off for holidays, regardless of the context/back story behind it.

However, IMO it's unlikely you'll actually get fined for it, so it's up to you whether you want to risk it.

LateDecemberBackInLowB12 · 30/09/2021 13:24

Call in sick for that day. They can't exactly argue the point for one day.

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MrsWorriedMother · 30/09/2021 13:25

You have to take ten days off unauthorised to get a fine. Not just one.
That sounds like an amazing (and educational) experience for him. Take him out anyway.

Beamur · 30/09/2021 13:25

School have no choice. They cannot authorise it.
Go anyway.
They might choose not to pursue the fine. But be prepared to pay it if they do
It's not personal.

PileOfBooks · 30/09/2021 13:26

Theyrenot permitted anymord to authorise it (stupid government) but Im under the impression they dont fine for under a weeks worth of sessions.

So I would just write a note saying he wont be in that day and why. Telling not asking.

Summergarden · 30/09/2021 13:26

It sounds like a perfect trip for him and I’m sure he will love it.

But the school has to adhere to the rules. Don’t take it personally, but the vast, vast majority of schools would have no option but to Refuse permission.

I’m surprised they will be able to fine you though, as I thought more sessions of school had to be missed in the space of a week than what your son will be missing. So hopefully if you just stick to the Friday off I’m pretty sure you won’t get fined.

kwiksavenofrillsusername · 30/09/2021 13:27

For one day I wouldn’t have even bothered getting permission. I would have just told them he had been sick the night before.

Can they even fine you for one day? Round here it’s 5 sessions or more of unauthorised absence - so 2.5 days before they bother fining you.

PileOfBooks · 30/09/2021 13:27

I have an autistic child who likes rollercoasters and hates crowds. We are going to take her out even though I know it wont be authorised. Its not even educational and unlikely career related (although she currently thinks she will work on rollercoasters.)

I'm an ex teacher and have decided to do it anyway 😁

IVFdreams2021 · 30/09/2021 13:27

I wouldn't have even asked them! They can never approve any holiday for any reason. Yours is valid and gives me actual experience. Always call them in sick.

lurker101 · 30/09/2021 13:28

Let him go, tell him to have a great trip and pay the fine (if it comes). Not sure what the dilemma is. It would be more effort to argue than just pay the small fine.

LaurieFairyCake · 30/09/2021 13:28

Not the schools fault

Luckily your FIL is paying and you can pay the fine if you get fined (you very likely won't)

ChicChaos · 30/09/2021 13:29

They can't authorise leave for holidays, so don't take it personally. If he's only off for a couple of days unless he's already got unauthorised absences it seems unlikely that he'll hit the trigger point for a fine.

I doubt there is any appeal and as the school can't authorise it, it would be pretty pointless. My understanding of the fines is that they start after 10 sessions (5 days, morning/afternoon equals 2 sessions a day).

Quartz2208 · 30/09/2021 13:29

I am so sorry about the overdose but it really would not be personal - it just simply is very difficult legally to authorise absence unless it fits within a set category (funeral for example)

One day fine though seems harsh - its normally 5 days (10 absences in half day slots) that means a fine otherwise it goes down as unauthorised

So just go - dont fight it I expect that will just cause more stress than having it unauthorised

Theunamedcat · 30/09/2021 13:29

Its one day you won't get fined

AFuturisticalSound · 30/09/2021 13:30

They can't stop you going, don't waste time on a decision that the school is mandated to make, carry on with your plans but budget for possible fines

Tbh your OP is long for and overexplained for a pretty minor non issue, children are off school everyday for unauthorised/unauthorisable reasons

OrangeTortoise · 30/09/2021 13:31

Don't take it personally - it honestly isn't personal. It's just how it works. Take him out anyway and pay the fine (if you even get fined - almost certainly not for one day).

pokemoncard · 30/09/2021 13:32

It's not personal - there is guidance they follow to 'authorise' absence. Your back story isn't taken into account. I don't like the system. You are taking it personally when it isn't.
Write to your MP and hope they change it!?
My understanding where I am is they won't fine for up to 4 days off. A whole week results in a fine- again not schools decision.
I am taking my children out of school for a day and have told school and they said 'how lovely' when I told them my plans but I dare say if they miss the register it's unauthorised.

backtoschool1234 · 30/09/2021 13:33

The school have to register it as unauthorised. However, I was also told by the school that they don't choose whether to fine but send off rolling year attendance figures to somewhere and if it flags that attendance is poor the education authority or whoever can choose to fine. If attendance is otherwise fine the trip away won't even register.

WeatherwaxOn · 30/09/2021 13:35

As others have said, the school are not allowed to authorise because of archaic ideas from the DfE
If it's one day they're unlikely to pursue any fines, but if you're local authority chase to this may need to pay
Personally, I would just go for it. The benefits of the day of school are social and educational as well as incorporating the exercise of walking around.

girlmom21 · 30/09/2021 13:37

As PP's, it's not personal.
Let him go to the F1. You won't get fined.

Northernsoullover · 30/09/2021 13:39

Just go. I remember posting a similar dilemma here 10 years ago. I look back and wish I'd taken more term time holidays.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 30/09/2021 13:40

Could you talk to SENCO and see if they can classify it as Educated Offsite? Probably a long shot unfortunately.

NotDorothy · 30/09/2021 13:46

School staff don’t have discretion in these matters. As a parent you have to make the best choice for your child. That might mean saving up the money to pay an unjust fine so your child can go on holiday. It’s ridiculous that might happen, but who cares. You know your child should go on this trip.

namechange30455 · 30/09/2021 13:47

You won't get fined. They're not allowed to authorise term time holiday, but this is a total non issue which you're (understandably) taking personally. Just let him go.

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